Arsenal captain and former Germany international Per Mertesacker has backed teammate Mesut Ozil to defy his critics this season, and believes he’s one of the most important players in the side.

Ozil has come in for heavy criticism already this season for his performances against Stoke City and Liverpool.

The 28-year-old isn’t a stranger to such treatment from the English press. If Arsenal aren’t winning, or if Ozil is not playing well, you can be certain that the knives will be out alarmingly quickly.

However, club captain and teammate Mertesacker knows Ozil well from their time together with Germany, let alone the last few years at Arsenal, and feels he’ll prove his critics wrong again.

“It is not easy as they are critical in the English media when it does not happen [on the pitch] – but it does not make any difference and he is one of our most important players. He also plays sensationally in the national team. He will soon show us why he is such a good player,” Mertesacker told German TV station Sport1.

Ozil has won three FA Cups with Arsenal as well as the World Cup with Germany. His time at the Emirates Stadium has been a successful one, in my opinion, even if it hasn’t been as successful as people would have liked.

He’s often Arsenal’s most creative player, and works hard to fashion opportunities for his teammates. His recent performance against Bournemouth epitomised what he’s all about. However, every now and then, he won’t track a forward forty yards into his own half and that makes him a liability.

In any case, we should all be hoping for Ozil to return to his best form, especially if this does turn out to be his final year at the club.